BBC News

The President of the United States Donald Trump mentioned that “no one has ever heard of” the African nation of Lesoteho – a remark he has “shocked” his authorities.
It is a small city in southern Africa which is nearly completely made up of mountains and is totally surrounded by South Africa.
Here are 9 issues to know concerning the nation:
‘The kingdom within the sky’
The Kingdom of Lesotho is principally made up of Highlands, the place many villages can solely be reached on horseback, on foot or mild plane.
It is called the “kingdom within the sky” and is the one impartial state on this planet that’s utterly above 1,000 m (3,281 toes) in elevation, in line with the British encyclopedia. Its lowest level is at 1,400 m.
It is thought to have probably the most intimidating touchdown tracks on this planet to land on: the Matekane touchdown observe has a brief walkway and with lengthy drops to each ends.
The enterprise insider web site describes the flight from the airport as “primarily the identical as when a hen is pushed out of the nest to be taught to fly”.
It is totally surrounded by South Africa
Lesotho is totally surrounded by South Africa, however separated from the bullets of mountain chains.
Much of his land for agriculture isn’t accessible, with its inhabitants susceptible to the shortage of meals and relies on revenue from jobs in South Africa. Over the many years hundreds of employees have been pressured by the shortage of job alternatives at house to seek out work in South Africa.
The folks of Lesoteho, which counts greater than two million, share some cultural and linguistic similarities with South Africans. Their language, Sesotho, can be one of many 11 official languages of South Africa. In truth, extra folks communicate it in South Africa – 4.6 million – than in Lesoteho.
The largest useful resource in Lesotho is “white gold”
The sources are scarce in Lesotho – a consequence of the arduous setting of the Highland plateau and the agricultural area restricted within the plains.
Its biggest useful resource is water – identified regionally as white gold – which is exported to South Africa. Diamonds are one other nice export.
The highest ski resort in Sub-Saharan Africa

When you consider snowboarding and snowboard, you possibly can think about the snowy slopes of Europe and North America.
But Lesoteho made himself identified on the Sport Snows scene. It has the best ski resort in sub-Saharan Africa, one of many few dealt with on the continent.
Aphriski is positioned at 3,222 m above sea stage, on the prime of the mountains of Maloti di Lesotho and attracts guests from Africa and past.
Lesoteho persons are known as Basotho
Lesoteho persons are indicated as Basotho.
Some of the cultural objects related to Basotho persons are their blankets and conventional Basotho conical hats, referred to as Mokorotlo. The hat is a nationwide image and seems in the course of the nation’s flag.
The blankets are made from thick wool, with their intricate and colourful motifs that inform a unique story of the historical past of Basotho. Basotho wears them as shawls in particular occasions and provides them as items.

Has one in every of HIV’s highest charges on this planet
Lesotho has one of many highest prevalence charges of the HIV on this planet, with one in 5 adults dwelling with HIV and extra infections for 100,000 folks in comparison with most different international locations, together with close by Namibia, Botswana and Eswatini.
The United States authorities has engaged virtually $ 1 billion to assist the nation handle HIV since 2006, additionally for prevention, help and therapy companies, in line with the United States Department of State.
Prince Harry has lengthy -standing private charity pursuits in Lesotho
The prince and his pricey good friend Lesoteho Seeiso created a charity group within the nation – really feel, which suggests “to not neglect”. Charity works with native communities in Lesotho on the fundamental stage, serving to younger folks with HIV/AIDS.
Prince Harry went to Lesoteho for the primary time as nineteen -year -old and returned to the nation many occasions.

Export Jeans to the United States
Lesotho is among the biggest clothes exporters in sub-Saharan Africa within the United States.
Last 12 months, it exported $ 237 million (£ 184 million) of clothes, together with denims and materials, within the United States by the regulation on African progress and alternatives (needle), which permits the Sharcan international locations appropriate to ship some items to the United States with out paying taxes.
It is in second place primarily based on the worth of the products exported in line with the settlement.
The nation with the best suicide fee on this planet
The mountain kingdom has the best suicide fee on this planet, with 87.5 folks per 100,000 inhabitants committing their lives yearly, in line with the United Nations World Health Organization.
This is nearly 10 occasions the worldwide common of 9 and greater than double the nation with the second highest fee, the Guyana, which has about 40.
There isn’t any motive for this stunning statistics: consultants point out the abuse of medicine and alcohol, the shortage of jobs and the shortage of recommendation on psychological well being.
